Bernie Chodirker, MD, FCCMG, FRCPC

My leadership style is based on the book "Make It So" which analyzes the style of Captain Jean-Luc Picard. He is considered a great leader in that he surrounds himself with quality staff with different types of expertise. He then listens to their opinion and in most cases takes their advice.

Having been the post-graduate education director for the Royal College Medical Genetics training program at the University of Manitoba, I have been very interested in education throughout my career. My favorite form of teaching is small group sessions. My favorite topics include genetic math, critical appraisal and pedigree analysis. I also enjoy teaching in other areas relating to my clinical practice including cancer genetics, prenatal diagnosis and syndrome identification.

Dr. Bernie Chodirker did his undergraduate and post-graduate training at the University of Manitoba. He initially trained in pediatrics and subsequently in medical genetics. He is the Prenatal Genetics Discipline Leader for the Shared Health Program in Genetics and Metabolism and is the clinical director for the Manitoba Maternal Serum Screening Program.

He was the post-graduate education director for Medical Genetics at the University of Manitoba for 17 years. He became the medical director for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (now Shared Health) Genetics and Metabolism program in January of 2015.

He is a full professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health and also in the Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics. He is currently working approximately half-time devoting his clinical practice to cancer genetics and prenatal diagnosis. Although he is primarily a clinician and educator, he has been a co-author on over 100 peer-reviewed papers.

Education

Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada - Medical Genetics (1996)

Fellow of the Canadian College of Medical Genetics - Clinical Genetics (1988)

Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada - Pediatrics (1988)

Master of Science (MSc), University of Manitoba - Human Genetics (1988)

Doctor of Medicine (MD), University of Manitoba (1980)

Awards

Canadian College of Medical Genetics F. Clarke Fraser Award for Excellence in Mentorship and Teaching (2020)

Manitoba Medical Students Association Nomination for Med II Award: Mentorship and Inspiration (2019)

Manitoba Medical Students Association Nomination for Med II Award: Inspiration (2015)